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| France floods: 16 dead on Riviera after storms | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Violent storms and flooding have hit south-eastern France, killing at least 16 people with three more missing, officials say. | Violent storms and flooding have hit south-eastern France, killing at least 16 people with three more missing, officials say. |
| Three elderly people drowned when their retirement home near the city of Antibes was inundated with floodwater. | Three elderly people drowned when their retirement home near the city of Antibes was inundated with floodwater. |
| Others died trapped in their cars in tunnels and underground car parks as the waters rose. | Others died trapped in their cars in tunnels and underground car parks as the waters rose. |
| French President Francois Hollande announced a state of "natural disaster" in the affected region. | |
| He thanked rescuers and expressed the "solidarity of the nation". | |
| Mr Hollande offered condolences as he visited the retirement home in the town of Biot and urged residents in the region to remain cautious, saying: "It's not over." | |
| 'Terrifying' | |
| Heavy rain hit the French Riviera, which lies on the Mediterranean coast and borders Italy, on Saturday evening. | Heavy rain hit the French Riviera, which lies on the Mediterranean coast and borders Italy, on Saturday evening. |
| The city of Nice is estimated to have received 10% of its average yearly rainfall in two days alone. | The city of Nice is estimated to have received 10% of its average yearly rainfall in two days alone. |
| The river Brague burst its banks, sending water coursing into nearby towns and cities. Social media pictures showed water gushing down the streets of Cannes. | The river Brague burst its banks, sending water coursing into nearby towns and cities. Social media pictures showed water gushing down the streets of Cannes. |
| Cannes resident Katya Higham-Stoianova told the BBC: "It was terrifying. We wanted to go out but decided not to as the rain was unbelievably heavy. The level of water was rising very quickly." | |
| Cannes mayor Davis Lisnard said: "Some cars were carried off into the sea. We have rescued a lot of people, and we must now be vigilant against looting." | |
| Eric Ciotti, president of the Alpes-Maritimes department, tweeted: "We have lived through an apocalyptic situation that we have never experience before." | |
| The main motorway through the area has been closed, trains halted and hundreds of tourists sought shelter at Nice airport overnight. About 27,000 homes are without power. | The main motorway through the area has been closed, trains halted and hundreds of tourists sought shelter at Nice airport overnight. About 27,000 homes are without power. |
| Some concertgoers attending a show by French rock legend Johnny Hallyday at a venue in Nice had to sleep overnight there after becoming stranded. | Some concertgoers attending a show by French rock legend Johnny Hallyday at a venue in Nice had to sleep overnight there after becoming stranded. |
| Have you been affected by the storms and floods? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Have you been affected by the storms and floods? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |